The True Face of Israeli Youth

A new poll reveals surprises that undermine the stereotype.

The Western media relishes depictions of young Israeli soldiers as callous, mean, and macho. A new study of Israeli eleventh and twelfth graders -- those who are about to become the next batch of soldiers-reveals a very different profile.

A poll conducted in early April, 2002, by Dr. Mina Tzemach, Israel's pre-eminent pollster, was published in the Hebrew weekly Jerusalem. It paints a portrait of teenagers whose primary value is family, who are afraid to venture out of their houses to have a good time, who are pessimistic that terror attacks will soon end or that the State of Israel will still exist by the time they reach middle age, yet who overwhelmingly want to remain in Israel.

Here is a sampling of the results:

Question: What is the most important thing for you to do in life?

To raise a family

33%

To find love

24%

To help others

21%

To serve the country

16%

To make money

5%

Question: Given the security situation, have you changed or not changed your recreational habits recently?

Yes, I go out of the house less

66%

Yes, I go out of the house more

1%

No, I haven't changed my recreational habits

33%

In your opinion, will the terror attacks in Israel continue for weeks, months, or years?

Several weeks

10%

Several months to one year

41%

At least two years

24%

At least ten years

18%

Undecided

7%

Question: Ultimately, do you believe that there will be peace with the Palestinians?

Never

50%

Yes, but it will take many years

45%

Yes, soon

4%

Undecided

1%

Question: In your opinion, will the State of Israel exist in another 50 years?

Definitely yes

54%

I think so

32%

I think not

6%

Definitely not

2%

Undecided

6%

Question: In return for real peace with the Palestinians, do you support or oppose the division of Jerusalem?

Support

21%

Oppose

77%

Undecided

2%

As a result of the security situation, have you changed your political stand?

No, I haven't changed

58%

Yes, I've moved to the right

31%

Yes, I've moved to the left

9%

Undecided

2%

Question: Among the following people, who, in your opinion is most fitting to lead the State of Israel as of today?

Benyamin Netanyahu

29%

Ariel Sharon

24%

Shimon Peres

10%

Ehud Barak

8%

Yossi Sarid [far left]

6%

Effie Eitam [religious right]

4%

Benyamin Ben Eliezer [Labor party head]

3%

Avigdor Lieberman [far right]

2%

None of them

13%

Undecided

1%

Question: In the framework of military service, which kind of unit would you like to serve in?

Combat unit

55%

Administrative unit

15%

Professional unit

29%

Undecided

1%

Question: In the framework of military service, do you prefer to serve in a unit close to home or far from home?

Close to home

72%

Far from home

21%

Doesn't matter

6%

Undecided

1%

The pollsters' comment in comparing the above two results was: "Even though most Israeli high school students are prepared to serve in a combat unit, even so they don't want to be far from their mothers."

Question: What profession do you want to practice in the future?

Doctor

12%

Hi-tech

10%

Teacher

7%

Security services

6%

Actor, singer, or D.J.

5%

Business

5%

Lawyer

4%

Rabbi

3%

Clerk

3%

Media

3%

Technician or electrician

2%

Housewife

0%

Question: In your opinion, should marijuana be legalized?

Yes

15%

No

84%

Undecided

1%

Question: Have you ever had sexual relations?

Yes

33%

No

62%

Didn't answer

5%

Question: If you had the choice, would you prefer to continue to live in Israel, or would you prefer to move to a different country?

Continue to live in Israel

84%

Move to a different country

16%

CONTRASTS

Reading this poll, I was struck by the contrast with my own youth in suburban New Jersey. As high school students, our biggest worry was getting admitted to a top college. These Israeli teenagers worry that if they go out for a pizza, they could lose their hands -- or their lives.

During my youth in America, gun control was a burning issue. Pro-gun control activists argued that the more guns are readily available, the more violent crimes are committed. In Israel, some two-thirds of the 18-to-21-year-olds walk around armed with an automatic rifle. (Army regulations require soldiers to carry their weapons at all times, including when they are off duty and when they go to sleep.) Yet the number of armed robberies and other crimes committed with these guns is minuscule. According to Police spokesperson Susie Ben Baruch, last year there were only two cases of armed robbery using army-issued guns (which were brandished to scare but not actually fired) and no cases of off-duty soldiers using their guns against another person (domestic quarrels, girlfriends, personal fights, etc.).

While my generation -- the sixties generation -- was known for its non-materialism, times have changed. The present mall generation sprouts more business majors than social workers. Yet only 5% of Israeli kids consider making money a life priority. Even the 10% who aspire to become doctors must be seen in context; the standard joke in Israel is that plumbers earn more than doctors.

In Israel, the specter of mortality confronts every eighteen-year-old.

As for mortality, my friends and I never gave it a thought. Death pertained to my parents' generation, as irrelevant to us as gray hair and paying taxes. As a teenager, I did not know a single young person who died of any cause. Here in Israel, however, the specter of mortality confronts every eighteen-year-old. Rare is the teenager who has not lost a friend, neighbor, or relative while serving in the army. In a military helicopter collision a few years ago, which killed 73 soldiers, five of the victims came from a single high school. Television footage of seniors in that high school a few days later showed young visages looking directly into the face of death.

The America of my youth was racked by periodic race riots, the seismic rumblings of the Civil Rights Movement, and, later, the upheavals of the War in Vietnam. But these societal convulsions affected me only as much as I allowed. I attended demonstrations on weekends -- except, of course, during exam periods. The great tragedies of my college years -- the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King -- drove me and my friends to spend long, somber hours discussing world issues over expresso at the Brandeis coffee house.

While I spent my youth in a land prone to occasional societal earthquakes, young Israelis perceive themselves as building their lives on quicksand. They are embarking on a future which, simply put, may not be there when they arrive. Forty-six percent are not sure their country will even exist fifty years down the road. And 95% expect to remain in a state of war with the Arabs for most of their adult lives. Over 40% expect the terror attacks -- which make every outing to a movie or mall into a foray with fate -- to last for years. These days many Israeli 19-year-olds attend more funerals than parties.

Facing this grim scenario, one might expect most young Israelis to opt out, to want to seek a safer, more "normal" life in Los Angeles or Houston. Yet 84% of those polled choose to stay in Israel -- at whatever cost. Why?

Although the poll included no religious nor philosophical queries, perhaps the answer lies in a result which reveals more unanimity than any of the political questions: 77% of Israeli teens oppose the division of Jerusalem -- even for "true peace" with the Arabs.

Jerusalem, Zion, the resting place of the Divine Presence, has for 3,000 years represented the core of Jewish identity, the place in this physical world which transcends the physical world, the site of our national rendezvous with God. Abdicating Jerusalem, especially the Temple Mount, means abdicating the essence of what it means to be a Jew. On some gut level, Israel's predominantly secular teenagers are not willing to sacrifice their identity as Jews, even for the sake of security, peace, and life itself.

This article is dedicated to my uncle Lloyd E. Rigler, on the occasion of his 87th birthday. He was recently awarded the "Humanitarian Award for the Arts" by the organization Free Arts for Abused Children. May God continue to bless him with life and good health in the merit of the many people he helps.

Related Articles:

About the Author

Sara Yoheved Rigler is the author of God Winked: Tales and Lessons from my Spiritual Adventures, as well as the bestsellers: Holy Woman, Lights from Jerusalem, and Battle Plans: How to Fight the Yetzer Hara(with Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller). She is a popular international lecturer on subjects of Jewish spirituality. She has given lectures and workshops in Israel, England, Switzerland, South Africa, Mexico, Chile, Canada, and over thirty American cities. A graduate of Brandeis University, after fifteen years of practicing and teaching meditation and Eastern philosophy, she discovered "the world's most hidden religion: Torah Judaism." Since 1985, she has been living as a Torah-observant Jew in the Old City of Jerusalem with her husband and two children. She presents a highly-acclaimed Marriage Workshop for women [seewww.kesherwife.com] as well as a Gratitude Workshop. To invite her to your community, please write to info@sararigler.com.

This poll that was taken clearly shows that the Israelis are the ones with the good intentions. If the polls were taken with Arab youth in an Arab country (like Iraq) I'm sure they would have come out much differently. The only thing that really surprised me was that the poll claims that 84% of Israelis don't support marijuana legalization.

Israel is the only country in the middle east thats treats all of her citizens like first class citizens. In all other Arab countries it is a harsh reality that only Muslim Men get treated like real citizens. In Israel however, everyone has equal opportunity whether you are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Man, or Woman.

(15)
Anonymous,
May 12, 2002 12:00 AM

The Clear Eyes of the Young

How very encouraging to see that the youth of Israel have eyes and hearts of clear understanding. So many of us adults are still seeking the answers to the basic questions of our priorities in life when these young ones can see it so very clearly. They see so many loved ones and friends senselessly and brutally killed daily and one can only imagine how hopeless everything seems to them. But it is so inspiring to see them rise above these and that they know what is more important and dear in life.
I can see them rising up as fearless defenders of Israel and the G-d Of Israel shall be with them because they will not break His law by dividing up His land to pacify the terrorists. They can see through all the political lies and their hearts are crying out for truth. May the G-d of Israel reveal His truth to every youth.

(14)
p leor,
May 9, 2002 12:00 AM

eye opening

thanks Ms Rigler, for another educating article. It is good for the rest of the world to know about the mentality and priorities of Israeli kids. There isn't a better place on earth for Jewish children and other Jews than Eretz Israel.... Baruch Hashem

(13)
Anonymous,
May 1, 2002 12:00 AM

Overview of Israel's Young People

Wonderful article and encouraging in many ways. However, I did not see anything about where these young people are in their religeous or spiritual lives. Do they study or believe in the Torah (if they have time)? And, are their basic beliefs dependent upon the teachings of the Torah? Or, are their beliefs based on political or patriotic ideas?

(12)
Ronn BenHarav,
April 30, 2002 12:00 AM

*nice to feel at home* from SanFrancisco

I lived in Tel Katzir for 5 years as a child and been in the US ever since- Despite all that is happening and all that my friends disaprove, in my heart, I hope to return to the Holy Land soon. I noticed it when I go to falafel joints, anywhere from SanFrancisco to New York to Toronto-the food stinks, but I enter those shops knowing I came to buy a piece of cultural identity. I came to meet Israeli's with a little chutzpa and lots of jokes. I came to play the "who do you know from where" game. Even if the only other Israeli in the room is the waiter or waitress-it's worth the sense of home.
It's a little lonely to know my class is the one fighting this horrible war as I tend to studies safely in the US- Gd bless each and every one of them.
with love to all, Shalom-
-Ronny BenHarav-

(11)
Dan Wolfson,
April 30, 2002 12:00 AM

dividing Jerusalem does not mean giving up your Judaism

dividing Jerusalem does not necessarily involve betraying Judaism. Of course it is holy, but Jewish lives are holier. If it meant a genuine-lasting peace, then it is worth giving it up. Anyway, before 1948, Jews had managed for 2000 years without it. Giving it up does not abdicate the essence of what it means to be a Jew. We'll get it back when the moshiach comes anyway.

(10)
Enoch Hagans,
April 29, 2002 12:00 AM

Israel must prevail

no amount of talking from arafat will ever convince me that there will be a lasting peace with the plo/pa or whatever they call themselves. The end-game the arabs want to play is the complete destruction of Israel. And the world especially europe will sit and watch.

(9)
Debra Landine,
April 29, 2002 12:00 AM

What maturity!!

These young people have had to grow up quickly and yet the majority seem to retain the ideals of love, family, purity, pride in their country and are willing to fight to keep them. I am impressed.

(8)
marouan zaiter,
April 29, 2002 12:00 AM

thank you !

Hi,My name`s Marouan , i`m a Tunisian Muslim Student in the USA , i am very interested on the state of Israel:social life , education ,culture... and i always visit your site to know more about your society contrary to other stupid people who don`t even know how are you guys living and trying to judge your behavior instantly ... you have treated something that i`ve been seeking for very long : Israeli youth ... Well , as a young student , it is obvious that the most important thing for me to know is the Israeli youth point of view about the world , their country , life , hobbies ,,, it was very sweet to me to see that 33%of Israeli youth are still dreaming about raising families and 24%seeking love in this absolutely horrible times that is not just Israel is living but the whole world , thank you for sending me the updates on aish.com and thank you for letting us (other than jews ) more about you ... the information is being very dispersed and we never know what we`re really looking for !
M.Z
Tampa/Florida/USA

(7)
christina mitchell,
April 29, 2002 12:00 AM

very interesting result of poll

Hosting Israeli young people in my home for the last number of years. See a change in their attitudes this year that we have not seen before.
Like your site, first time visitor will come again regularily.

(6)
Ruth Fogelman,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

So much for the steriotypes of today's secular youth!
You have done much to make Dr. Mina Tzemach's study available to the English-speaking public, and to highlight the contrasts between Israeli youth, who shoulder an unfair proportion of historical responsibility, and their Diaspora counterparts.
As usual, a big yashar ko'ach to you, Sara!

(5)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

Americans could learn from Israelis

Israel has the right to be so proud of their youth and others. No other country in the world could endure what Israel has and continues to do so. I think the IDF are honorable-the best and the brightest of the world's future. G-d Bless Israel!

(4)
gabriel heffes,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

a very pleasent surprise
YISHAR KOAJ

(3)
,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

Fact-Finding

It's a very important statement made by the youth of Israel about the priorities of the youth of Israel. They are taking a bad sitation and in many regards making the most from it.

I would however I believe the closing paragraphs twist the facts.
- 95% of Israelis expect peace with the Arabs will be achieved.
- 86% either believe or think there country will exist well into the future.

These are examples of other ways of presenting the same information for the polls with an opposite message.

(2)
Steve Brizel,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

Post Zionism -a myth, not a social reality

These statistics confirm what we suspected all along. In other words, the vast majority of Israelis still belive in the Zionist ethos and have a strong attachement to the Land and State of Israel. These results show that Post Zionism is a movement limited to a fraction of the intellectual elite, as opposd to the majority of Israelis.

(1)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2002 12:00 AM

Very interesting survey and results! I'd be especially interested to see a comparison of American teenager's answers to the same survey questions, since the US post-9/11 is a different place than in the sixties.

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

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